Best Wild Week Ever

Sure, the Wild went oh-fer on the week with a pair of losses, but how can one possibly say that last week wasn’t the Best Wild Week Ever? Here at BWWE, we don’t see a skunk, then hightail it the other way. We realize it is one of God’s creatures, we feed it some raspberries, and we offer our thanks for spraying our dogs to keep the tomato juice industry healthy.

That’s the way we do it here in the State of Hockey, folks. You either like it, or you leave it. And I know people in Minnesota like to look at the bright side of things. After all, how else do you explain our willingness to go outside in temperatures that fuse our eyelids together?

The week of November 7th through the 13th yielded nothing in the way of wins. However, it also yielded nothing in the way of new injuries to the boys. That has to be a first this year.

Plus, we welcomed a new mayor into the fold, crowned three new State champs in Girls’ Volleyball, and The Great One was in town. These all factored into making the week of November 7 through November 13, the very Best Wild Week Ever.

Monday, November 7, 2005

The Wild returned from California, fresh off a pair of back-to-back road wins over the Sharks, and the Ducks. There was no resting in the cards for these boys, despite the fact they were coming off a seven-day, four-game trip. They were right back at it, practicing on Monday afternoon to prepare for (say it with me) Wayne Gretzky and the Phoenix Coyotes.

Wild fans weren’t as concerned about Monday’s practice as they were about obtaining PowerAde Power Play tickets for the month of November. In less than two hours, the tickets were sold out and the cranium of Wayne Petersen, the Wild’s Director of advertising and promotions, was literally spinning like a top.

Tuesday, November 8, 2005

A visit from the "Great One" will spruce up anybody’s week. Even if he did lead the Coyotes to a 4-2 win over the Wild.

It was Election Day in St. Paul, as well as in the rest of our great country on Tuesday. Randy Kelly supporters, Chris Coleman supporters, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Socialists, Green Party members and Bull Moose Party members alike, came together in support of the Wild, who played host to the Phoenix Coyotes.

After falling behind by a three goals after one period, the Wild went ballistic, firing everything they had at Yotes netminder, Curtis Joseph. “CuJo,” as his friends call him, was brilliant for 59 minutes and 59 seconds of the game. The second in question saw him give up a goal to Filip Kuba who sent a wrist shot from inside his own zone that bounced through his leg pads. High quality entertainment.

Kuba’s miracle shot was not enough. The Wild’s comeback was thwarted late in the third, and our boys dropped the first game of the week to Phoenix, 4-2.

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

Did you know that when someone on the Wild roster plays in 600 career NHL games, he gets his own hotel room on the road? Well, you would have learned fun facts like these, and more if only you would have attended Wild Hockey Unplugged at Buffalo Wild Wings in Crystal on Wednesday.

Fans packed inside the establishment to watch host Kevin Falness in action. Oh, Wild forwards Marc Chouinard and Kyle Wanvig were there too. They were happy to answer questions from the State of Hockey legion - some relating to hockey, while others, not so much.

It was during this Q & A session that Chouinard revealed that his roommate on the road, Alexandre Daigle is coming up on 600 career games, meaning that he will soon get his own hotel room on the road. Chouinard will have to fight someone else for possession of the remote control.

To hear more about what happened at BW3, Click here to listen to Kevin Falness’esse’s’ recap.

Hey! Kid in the back! Don’t look so glum! You’re at a live taping of Call of the Wild AND you’re a part of the "Best Wild Week Ever!" (cr. Maggie Kukar)

For those in the SOH legion that enjoy the company of goaltenders and watching cute little kids ask questions, Demori’s in Oakdale was the place to be. Demori’s hosted a live taping of Call of the Wild with Dwayne Roloson, and host Jeff Grayson.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

While the Wild boarded a flying machine for Detroit to prepare for the vaunted Red Wings attack, fans learned that Marian Gaborik was in Los Angeles, seeking treatment on his groin.As reported by the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Gaborik was out west to meet with Dr. Joseph Horrigan, who specializes in soft tissue injuries.

Gaborik spent three sessions with the doc, and he reported progress.

“I think it went well,” he told the Star Tribune. “Every time, my muscles felt looser. Now I’m kind of sore from the deep massage. But it feels good.”

Friday, November 11, 2005

The Wild couldn’t quite find the resources to get by the Detroit Red Wings, owners of the best record in the National Hockey League. Trailing 2-0 in the third period, Minnesota cut the lead in half with a pretty Pierre-Marc Bouchard to Randy Robitaille hook up on the power play. These two appear to be cooking up some good juju as of late. Bouchard has the first assist on all three of Robitaille’s goals this season.

Alas, it was not enough. Just seconds after Robitaille scored, Brian Rolston just missed netting the equalizer off his own rebound. Shortly after, Johan Franzen of Detroit put the game away on a rebound goal, making it difficult to find reasons why this was the Best Wild Week Ever.

The Wild returned home late Friday night for a couple of days at home before trekking up to Calgary. Because of the State Girls’ volleyball tournament being held at the Xcel Energy Center, the Wild moved their practice to a local Twin Cities rink. This rink in particular does not have extensive locker room amenities; meaning Wild players dressed at Xcel and bussed to the rink. It was like the old Mite days, only they didn’t need their parents to tie their skates for them.

Meanwhile, back at Xcel, Chaska, Lake of the Woods and Bethlehem Academy were rolling to State titles in Girls’ Volleyball. With the Chaska win, Wild media relations guru, Aaron Sickman took home a hefty pot when he won the Wild State volleyball office pool. Is there anything this guy can’t do when he puts his mind to something?

Sunday, November 13, 2005

While the Minnesota Vikings were somehow defeating the New York Giants despite putting up negative yardage on offense, the Wild squeezed in another practice before boarding a plane bound for Calgary, Alberta, home of Wild forwards Wes Walz and Kyle Wanvig.

Calgary is a nice, clean city, but not without its quirks. For example, they call bathrooms “washrooms.” Those crazy hosers! What will they think of next?

An uneventful Sunday concluded with several broadcasters and other television types heading to a local

Let’s see that smile Houston GM Tom Lynn. The Aeros are having the Best Wild Week Ever! (cr. Bruce Kluckhohn)

establishment to toast yet another “Best Wild Week Ever.”

That brings us to who had the Best Wild Week Ever…

The Houston Aeros. The Wild’s primary developmental affiliate steamrolled its American Hockey League competition last week on the way to a 4-0-0 record on the week. The Aeros have won their last five games, and are unbeaten over the last seven. Houston now owns the best point total in the AHL at 29. To top things off, Aeros winger Roman Voloshenko was featured on Wild.com in a piece by noted writer, Alan Adams. Voloshenko, along with linemates Kirby Law and Erik Westrum rank in the top ten of AHL scoring.